Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Individuals With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

Objectives: To identify and describe the types and time course of dysphagia following cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in an SCI inpatient rehabilitation unit. Seventy-six individuals with SCI were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, admitted into SCI inpatient rehabilitation unit, and medically stable for participation in bedside swallow evaluation (BSE) and videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). All participants first underwent a BSE, of whom 33 completed a VFSS. A follow-up BSE was conducted on individuals who tested positive on the initial BSE and continued to show signs of dysphagia. Diagnosis and type of dysphagia as well risk factors were collected. Results: Twenty-three out of 76 individuals with cervical SCI were diagnosed with dysphagia using the BSE. All participants with positive BSE and VFSS had pharyngeal dysfunction. For participants with a positive initial BSE and persisting dysphagia ( n = 14), a follow-up BSE demonstrated resolution within 34 days. Risk factors associated with dysphagia were older age, nasogastric tube, invasive mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, and pneumonia. Posterior spinal surgery was associated with a decreased risk of dysphagia. Conclusion: Dysphagia was present in 30% of individuals based on the initial BSE. All individuals with dysphagia demonstrated pharyngeal phase dysfunction on the VFSS. No participants experiencing dysphagia were missed on the BSE as confirmed by VFSS. In the subset of individuals who received a follow-up BSE, the time course of resolution of dysphagia was at most 34 days from initial BSE.

Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in patients with cervical spinal cord injury: a retrospective study focused on oral intake at discharge

“…Regarding the relation between CSCI and swallowing function, previous studies have shown that older age is a signi cant risk factor for dysphagia [1,3,4,5,19]. Our results show the same tendency.…”

“…Dysphagia is a common secondary complication of cervical spinal-cord injury (CSCI) with an estimated incidence of 22.5-41.0% [1][2][3][4]. A recent scoping review claimed that untreated dysphagia in patients with CSCI may lead to an increase in the length of hospital stay and overall cost of care, and a decrease in patients' quality of life [5].…”

Systematic Review of Incidence Studies of Pneumonia in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

“…Mechanical ventilation means ventilation through a tracheostomy or an endotracheal tube [ 29 ]. Dysphagia is commonly diagnosed by a swallow evaluation at the bedside, a flexible fiberoptic endoscopy evaluation of swallowing, or a videofluoroscopic swallow study [ 30 ]. Dummy variables were created, and the category with the hypothesized lowest incidence was chosen as the reference category.…”

Pulmonary function and sarcopenia as predictors of dysphagia in cervical spinal cord injury

“…Dysphagia is a common secondary complication that often accompanies cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). The incidence of dysphagia in individuals with CSCI ranges from 20%-40% [1][2][3][4]. Dysphagia requires attention because it can cause fatal respiratory diseases such as aspiration pneumonia, one of the leading cause of death among individuals with CSCI [5].…”